WinterWoman's Observations

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Nature at 55 (revisited)

Last spring, I wrote about observing nature at 55 miles per hour. That’s how I found the big patch of White Trout Lily (that I had been driving past for 9 years and never noticing). I stopped again this year for more photos.

I also stopped at a couple of other spots that catch my eye as I drive and got these:

I’ve never seen these any place else. And they’re so perfect and colorful, I was sure they must be some sort of domesticated thing… But I think they are actually a wildflower! Native to our area, even! Moss (or Creeping) Phlox (Phloxsubulata). They are on a rocky, dry roadside bank on Route 60 (Foote Avenue) near “The Glen.”

Certainly I see these all over the place. But there is one spot on the east side of Route 62 between the traffic light and Riverside Road where you can see a rather large patch of them. White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora).

These, too, are everywhere. But on the west side of Route 62 they spill into the ditches from a woodland creek and are just lovely… Marsh Marigold (Calthapalustris).

Wonderful photographs of these delicate wild flowers. They are such a treat for the eyes and only bloom such a short time. I transplanted some anemones from the wild into a corner in my garden! They took over the area and were perfectly suited – almost like a ground cover. Loved them!

At 65 miles per hour last weekend had to stop for a Golden Eagle! My blog post is titled “Stop the Car! STOP THE CAR!” Bet you’re familiar with that cry! Windflowers carpeting the embankment on a major road in Massachusetts the weekend before caused me to pull over to let out a sigh. They hadn’t made an appearance in Central Maine yet. Isn’t spring wonderful?